After watching last weeks Magic Weekend and the week befores Summer bash, it occurred to me that quite a few other teams influential players are ex Leeds trained players.

After putting a team together it is quite a testament to what we do with our youth, as the team of course wouldn't be world beaters but would be competitive in SL or at least the Championship...

1. Jordan Tansey (Cas)
2. BJB (Salford)
3. Chev Walker (Bradford Bulls)
4. Ashley Gibson (Cas)
5. Jodie Broughton (Hudds)
6. Luke Gale (Cas)
7. Kyle Briggs (Sheff)
8. Nick Scruton (Wak)
9. Paul McShane (Wak)
10. Gareth Carvell (Fev)
11. Chris Clarkson (Widnes)
12. Luke Burgess (Manly)
13. Liam Hood (Salf)

14. Gareth Moore (Fev)
15. Ryan Bailey (Cas)
16. Daniel Smith (Wak)
17.


I have probably missed other people off, but the club must be proud that an almost second team of former players are contributing to SL and the top of championship. It must show that spending on youth systems is more beneficial than bringing 30 year old Aussies...

And the only one I'd have back is Luke Burgess

There are plenty more kicking around in the Championship and Championship One:

Scott Murrell, Ben Kaye, Dane Manning, Richard Moore (Halifax)
Liam McAvoy (Workington)
Wayne Reittie (Batley)
Aaron Brown (Dewsbury)
Jimmy Watson, Michael Haley, Callum Casey (Hunslet)
Mo Agoro (Hemel Stags)
Matt Gardner, Ben White (Swinton)

Gale, Scruton, and Smith would have more than a fair chance of ousting players currently at Leeds at the moment.

Personally think we could do with Gales kicking game atm.

Gale I'll give you, but Scruton and Smith? No thanks

Gale needs a player with flair alongside him in the halves to be successful. He's Matty Smith Lite. If you're looking at direct comparisons, Sutcliffe and McGuire played him off the park over Easter.

Scruton's a steady, up and down prop who does a job . Would he offer more than say Leuluai or Yates at the moment? Probably. Would he be available on the same money? Unlikely.

Smith strikes me as another Singleton. Hard-working but without ever looking like he's going to be damaging either in attack or defence.

Do you not think there is a contradiction in your post there? you start off saying he needs someone else alongside, then finish by saying he was played of the park by players who actually played well as a partnership that day.

Gale is way above Matty Smith in the right team. Put him at Wigan instead of Smith and he would be tearing up trees. I think him and Sutcliffe would be a very good pairing together personally. He wouldn't be my first choice, but just an example that there is players out there who could improve us.

On the others, your right on Scruton, but yes would give us much more than Kylie on the sidelines, and certainly well above Yates, and Singleton (at the moment) too.

Smith again don't disagree with you, but would have before what we have, just the same.

Clack son still a Leeds player only on loan at Widnes, I rate clarkson still has a future at Leeds for me way better that some at the club.

I wouldn't have Scruton back, the guy can barely string 2 games together.

Gale is an interesting one, he probably suffered with coming through at the wrong time, had he been coming through at this point in time, he would probably be in the team now, or at least getting a significant amount of game time.

Singleton's been quiet this past month or so granted, but I'd certainly say he's been damaging both in attack and defence this season.

Kyle Amor

Not a Leeds academy product

I don't even think he's an academy product of any team is he?

Sure he was playing amateur rugby up to the age of 21?

The 'Old Leodensians' XVII:

1. Jordan Tansey, Castleford
2. Ben Jones-Bishop, Salford
3. Ashley Gibson, Castleford
4. Chev Walker, Bradford
5. Jodie Broughton, Huddersfield
6. Scott Murrell, Halifax
7. Luke Gale, Castleford
8. Kyle Amor, St Helens
9. Paul McShane, Wakefield
10. Luke Burgess, Manly
11. Weller Hauraki, Salford
12. Chris Clarkson, Widnes
13. Ryan Bailey, Castleford

14. Liam Hood, Salford
15. Nick Scruton, Wakefield
16. Adrian Morley, Salford
17. Daniel Smith, Wakefield

Hauraki not Leeds fed trained, could put Dane Manning (Halifax) in his place....

Some good players there.

Noticed in League Express that clubs get £5k added onto their salary cap for every academy player currently playing in SL or NRL up to a maximum of 20 players so an extra £100,000. Leeds would easily manage that.

At Bradford we’d almost manage that here’s a 17 of ex academy lads including some in the NRL and Championship

Naughton (Hull)
Kay (Leigh)
Atkins (Warrington)
Wardle (Huddersfield)
Crookes (Dewsbury)
Pryce (Hull)
Bridge (Warrington)
T,Burgess (Souths)
Flanagan (St Helens)
G,Burgess (Souths)
Peacock (Leeds)
Whitehead (Catalans)
Bateman (Wigan)

Kopczak (Huddersfield)
Patrick (Wigan)
Ferres (Huddersfield)
Finigan (Hunslet)

Isn't Bridge a Hudds academy product?

Nah Bradford, he was actually a better player than McGuire at academy level. They had some good battles.

I didn't know Patrick was a Bradford academy product though.

We let Larne go way back. Another late bloomer.

Handy pack, that. All hail Chris Caisley!

I wouldn't exactly call him a late bloomer. He was 20 when he made his debut for Huddersfield, and has played continuously since. Seems he was just waiting for an opportunity, rather than changing overnight.

The number of times I have come across seeing a late bloomer, I could count of one hand. Really isn't that many to have happened. Most stars in the game either debut early, or end up with a change of position that revitalises them.

I can't say I've ever rated Patrick. He's one of those overrated underrated players. Also, from what I've seen of him Hudds got the better end of the deal as Jack Hughes has been very solid for Hudds, where as Patrick has looked pretty terrible for Wigan.

We let him go when Nobby was still with us IIRC so he was v young when he left. I don't think he's that good but he can break the line sometimes. He wins a bench spot on my Bulls "Have a look at what you could've been XVII".